Tearing eye doll actuated by squeezing the torso

ABSTRACT

The essence of the invention resides in the use of an area in the interior of a doll&#39;&#39;s head which is in direct communication with measured holes in the doll&#39;&#39;s eyes and which is formed by a means of displacing a portion of the hollow interior of said doll&#39;&#39;s head. The measured holes in the doll&#39;&#39;s eyes run through from the interior of the doll head to the exterior thereof. The preferred means for forming the area is by the use of a bulbous protrusion which is part of the torso of the doll body and which extends upwardly therefrom. The bulbous protrusion is hollow so that air may be accumulated therein, may be formed other than integrally with the torso although the integral formation is preferred. The area is formed between the interior surface of the doll&#39;&#39;s head and the exterior surface of the bulbous protrusion and a flange and seat arrangement is formed at the doll&#39;&#39;s neck to prevent the leakage of fluid from the area when fluid is contained or injected therein. Fluid is urged into the area by the use of a slit formed in the back of the mouth of the doll. Water may be injected into the mouth and this water is used to force the slit open and force fluid into the area. The leakage of fluid through the measured holes in the doll&#39;&#39;s eyes may be a result of either light pressure applied to the surface of the fluid in the area or as a result of a gravity feed of fluid through the holes. The use of the gravity feed requires an aperture in the doll while the use of pressure requires a hole in the bulbous protrusion within the head of the doll.

Ostrander [11'] 3,822,500 [451" July 9,1974

[ TEARING EYE DOLLACTUATED BY SQUEEZING THE TORSO [76] Inventor: RobertK. Ostrander, 497 Prospect St., Maplewood, NJ. 07040 22 Filed: Sept. 25,1972 21 Appl. No: 291,768

Primary Examiner-F; Barry Shay Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kirchstein,Kirchstein, Ottinger & Frank 57 0 ABSTRACT The essence of the inventionresides in the use of an I area in the interior of a dolls head which isin direct communication with measured holes in the dolls eyes and whichis formed by a means of displacing a portion of the hollow interior ofsaid dolls head. The measured holes in the doll s eyes run through fromthe interior of the doll head to the exterior thereof. The

preferred means for forming the area is by the use of a bulbousprotrusion which is part of the torso of the doll body and which extendsupwardly therefrom. The bulbous protrusion is hollow so that air may beaccumulated therein, may be formed other than integrally with the torsoalthough the integral formation is preferred. The area is formed betweenthe interior surface of the dolls head and the exterior surface of thebulbous protrusion and a flange and seat arrangement is formed at thedolls neck to prevent the leakage of fluid from the area when fluid iscontained or injected therein. Fluid is urged into the area by the useof a slit formed in the back of the mouth of the doll. Water may beinjected into the mouth and this water is used to force the slit openand force fluid into the area. The leakage of fluid through the measuredholes in the dolls eyes may be a result of either light pressure appliedto the surface of the fluid in the area or as a result of a gravity feedof fluid through the holes. The use of the gravity feed requires anaperture in the doll while the use of pressure requires a hole in thebulbous protrusion within the head of the doll.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTED L 9 SHEET 2 (IF 2 FIG6 l TEARINGEYE DOLL ACTUATED BY SQUEEZING THE TORSO BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a new and uniquetearing eye doll.

2. Description of the Prior. Art

Heretofore, numerous attempts have been made to perfect a tearing eyedoll which would be economical to manufacture and create less problemsof leakage and breakage than thetearing eye dolls presently on themarket. Further, the presently marketed tearing eye dolls present anassembly problem which requires added expenses and'weak points which arepotential leak points. v

Further, the prior art tearing eye devices were of such constructionthat they were cumbersome and were unable to be used in dolls of smallconfiguration as three-inch dolls.

Theprior art tearing eye dolls required a fluid reservoir with conduitsleading to the eyes of the doll and a conduit leading to the mouth ofthe doll so that the reservoir may be filled. Separate valveswerenecessary to prevent water leakage and because of the size of thereservoirs, often large amounts 'of water were needed to make the dollreact in a desired manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION v PURPOSES OF THE INVENTION It is the generalobject of the present invention to avoid'and overcome the objections anddeficiencies in the prior art devices by providing a simply structuredsystem for creating the impression of a tearing eye doll, by providingan inexpensive easily moldable doll.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tearing eye dollwhich has no conduits of any type leading to the dolls eyes or mouth.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a simplemeans of creatingthe effect of a tearing eye doll by squeezing the dollbody.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an area formedwithin the head of a doll by means of displacing space and means forpreventing leakage of fluid contained in this area.

Still another object of the present invention is the disposition of ahole either in the doll or in a bulbous protrusion within the head ofthe doll to provide either a pressure feed or gravity feed of fluidthrough measured holes in the eyes of a doll.

Still a further object of the presentinvention is to 2 Yet a furtherobject of the present invention, when using the gravity method, is toprovide a doll which does not require a compressable body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tearing eye dollwith eyes which are either the button type, movable or painted on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above objects and other objectswhich will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved byproviding a doll having a head, torso, arms provide a means such asbulbous protrusion which is insertable within the interior of the doll shead to displace at least two-thirds of the internal portion of the dollhead volume.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a meansforinjecting fluid into the area without utilizing complicated valvearrangements for preventing the leakage of fluid therefrom.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tearingeye-arrangement which can be ,usedforv dolls with molded hair or rootedhair. I

Yet afurther object of the present invention is to provide a tearing eyedoll in which it is not necessary to place the doll in the horizontalposition tofill the area with fluid.

and legs, said torso having a means for forming an area such as abulbous protrusion forming integrally therewith and extending upwardlytherefrom. Said bulbous protrusion being insertable into the hollowinterior of a dolls head and having a sealing means provided at thejunction of the head and bulbous protrusion. The area is formed withinthe interior of the head between the exterior surface of the bulbousprotrusion and the interior wall of the doll head and is adapted toreceive a quantity of fluid therein. A pair of measured holes areprovided in the dolls head at the location of the dolls eyes throughwhich fluid may flow creating the illusion of tears flowing from thedoll s eyes. Means for promot-- ing the emission of the fluid throughsaid measured holes is provided. A tube is molded integrally within themouth having a closed endinside the head formed at the back of themouth. The inner end of said tube is slit to provide an opening forliquid to enter under pressure and which will'close to prevent backflowof said fluid.

. BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectionalview showing a further alternative embodiment; for use in cloth bodied,stuffed dolls;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of thehead of the doll;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following disclosure representsa means of perof an alternative mitting the effect of creating a tearingeye doll. Two v structures and methods are disclosed, the first relatingto a pressure emitting tear system and the second by the use ofgravity.-

As shown in FIG. 1 the preferred embodiment of a tearing eye doll isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The doll is comprisedof a removable head structure 12 anda torso 14 with provisions forintegrally molded arms 16 and legs 18 or removably connectable arms 16or 18. As will be more fully hereinafter described, the condition offlexibility of the body or torso 14 may be a function of the systemwhich is used to create the illusion of the tearing eyes. For example, i

a soft squeezable material will be utilized for the dolls body in theevent the pressure system is utilized to cre ate the flow of tears fromthe dolls eyes. It should be noted however that very little pressure isrequired to have the tears appear so that a semi-rigid body structuremaybe utilized. A tough relatively inflexible material may be used forthe doll body in the event that the gravity system is used to create theflow of liquid from the dolls eyesemmulatingtears. In anotheralternative embodiment, the pressure system may be used in connectionwith stuffed dolls with sewn on arms and legs. In this latter case, aswill hereinafter be more fully explained, a squeezable member isinsertable in the interior of the torso so that pressure exerted on thedoll body will be exerted on the squeezable member.

The torso 14 is provided with an upwardly extending bulbous projection20 which has a hollow interior 22 and may be integrally molded with andpart of the torso portion 14.

It should be particularly understood that the general purpose of thebulbous projection 20 is to occupy a major portion of the hollowinterior 22 of the dolls head 12. The bulbous projection 20 may beeithersolid or hollow in and of itself, depending upon the system utilized tourge the emission of the fluid from the dolls eyes. One of the principalpurposes of the bulbous projection 20 is to displace or occupyapproximately twothirds of the inner head volume leaving approximatelyone-third as an area (hereinafter more fully described) for maintainingfluid. It is possible that the bulbous projection 20 might be moldedintegrally with the head itself. The basis for the provision of thebulbous projection 20 is to reduce the area in the head which would holdthe fluid needed to produce a flow of tears by gravity or air pressure;

A neck-like portion 24 extends between the bulbous projection 20 and thetorso 14 and is provided with an outwardly flared flange 26, whichextends completely around the periphery of the neck-like portion 24. Inthe case of the utilization of the pressure method for creating thetears in the dolls eyes 28 (which will hereinafter be described) thebulbous projection 20 is provided with an air hole 30 at a point 32which is point on the bulbous projection located in the general areawhich is the highest when the doll is in the vertical or horizontalposition and which is in communication with the hollow interior 22. Theremovable doll head 12, at its neck opening 34 is provided with aninterior matingly engagable rim 36 which is adapted to engage the flange26 to create a water-tight joint or seal 38 between the doll head 12 andthe doll torso 14.

An area 40 is formed between the outer surface 42 of the bulbousprojection and the interior surface 44 of the dolls head 12. This area40 thus formed holds fluid which may be injected or directed thereinto.It will be recalled that the junction of the doll head 12 and torso 14is formed in such a manner that a watertight joint or seal 38 is createdby the rim 36 and the flange 26.

The interior hollow section 22 of the bulbous protrusion 20 and thehollow interior 46 of the doll torso 14 are interconnected and containair. When the torso 14 of the doll 10 is squeezed air may pass throughthe air hole in the uppermost section 32 of the bulbous pro trusion 20into the area 40 creating a surface pressure on the fluid in the areagreater than 1 atmosphere.

In order to create the effect of a tearing eye, the eye 28 in the head12 of the doll 10 is provided with a measured hole 48 through whichdroplets of fluid may be urged when slight pressure is exerted on thedoll body 14. The measured hole 48 in the doll head 12 is of sufficientdiameter so that fluid is ejected in very small quantities as droplets.

In order to fill or refill the area 40 in the doll head 12 the mouth 50of the doll is provided with a tube 52 therein and a knife-cut valve 54is formed at the rear portion 56 of the wall of the doll which forms themouth. The knife-cut 54 permits fluid injected under pressure to beforced through the cut 58 which communicates with the area 40 but willnot permit fluid to leak from the area 40 outwardly into the cavity 60formed in the dolls mouth. In effect a check-valve is formed. In orderto accomplish the injection of fluid into the area 40 a squeeze bottle62 may be provided which has an elongated cone-shaped nozzle 64. Thecavity 60 and tube 52 in the mouth 50 of the doll is of such a diameterthat it will permit the insertion of the nozzle in the cavity 60 untilthe tip 66 abuts the slit or knife-cut valve 54. When the tip 66 of thenozzle 64 is in such position the diameter of the nozzle 62 will matchdiameter of the tube 52, preventing further penetration and also forminga watertight seal. When the squeeze bottle 62 is squeezed, fluidcontained therein will be urged through the knife-cut valve 54 into thearea 40. When the bottle 62 is removed the knife-cut valve 54 will closeto prevent leakage at this point.

The structure hereinabove described relates to the procedure ofsqueezing the torso 14 of the doll 10 to increase the air pressure onthe surface of the fluid disposed within the area 40, sufficiently toovercome the meniscus formed by fluid in the measured hole 48 in each ofthe dolls eyes 28. It should be noted that the diameter of each measuredhole 48 in the dolls eyes 28 are small enough so that the meniscusformed therein is sufficient to prevent a flow of fluid under 1atmosphere of pressure. In this case, only a slight amount of addedfluid pressure is required to permit droplets of fluid to escape througheach of the measured holes 48.

As shown in FIG. 4, a pressure responsive tearing eye doll arrangementas described above, may be adapted to stuffed dolls. In this alternativeembodiment, the dolls head 12 may be formed as previously described withthe doll having a measured hole 48' in each of the eyes 28. The diameterof the measured holes 48' being sufficient to form a meniscus thereinwhen one atmosphere of fluid surface pressure is present in the area40'. In this embodiment, however, the bulbous protrusion 20' is formedintegrally with a downwardly, extending deformable generallycylindrically shaped member or squeeze element 68. The squeeze element68 is adapted to fit into the torso 14 of the stuffed doll l0 and isdeformable when pressure is applied to the outer surface of the dollstorso 14'. The bulbous protrusion 20' fits into the head 12' with thesame watertight joint or seal 38' formed at the junction of the head 12'and neck-like portion 24'. The bulbous protrusion 20 may be held inplace on the torso 14' by any well known flange arrangement 70. The area40 is then formed between the inner surface 44 of the doll head and theouter surface 42' of the bulbous protrusion 20'. An air hole 30 isprovided in the uppermost section 32 of the bulbous protrusion 20 topermit the air contained therein to be urged into the area 40, aspreviously described with reference to the preferred embodiment.Similarly, the means for filling the area 40' is the same as previouslydescribed.

The above described structure may be used in connection with the use ofrooted hair dolls as well as the molded hair and stuffed dolls. However,in the case of 5 rooted hair 'dolls, the inner surface of the dolls headmust be properly internally sealed, to prevent leakage of the fluidthrough the stitched portions.

Although I have described the structure for requiring pressure on thedolls torso to permit the doll to cry, a gravity method may be. used. inutilizing the gravity feed there is required a hole 72 as shown in FIG.6 in the doll 10" so that the fluid in the area 40" is always underatmospheric pressure. The measured hole 48" in the dolls eyes 28" is ofsufficient diameter to permit the seepage of droplets of fluid therefromwhen the doll is in an upright position and there is sufficient fluid inthe area 40" to create a head above the level of the eyes 28". In thegravity method, the hole in the bulbous protrusion is eliminated.

Utilizing the gravity feed, the doll, can be made with a rigid body andbulbous insert. In the operation of the gravity fed tearing eye doll,fluid is forced into the mouth of the doll, as described with respect tothe preferred embodiment. in this case, however, it is pre- "ferred thatthe area 40" be filled when the doll is in the reclining position sothat the dolls eyes do not cry when the doll is being fed.

a i 6 to properly simulate the tearing eyes of a doll.

Whilein accordance withthe patent statutes a preferred embodiment andalternative embodiments are shown and described in detail, the inventionherein is not to be considered to be limited thereto or thereby.

1 claim:

1. A tearing eye doll comprising a head, said head including a shellhaving a hollow interior and an inner surface, a bulbous projectionhaving an outer surface and disposed'within said hollow interior andoccupying approximately two thirds of said hollow interior, said bulbousprojection having air at atmospheric pressure disposed therein, a spacein the hollow interior of the dolls head between the inner surface ofsaid shell and the outer surface of said bulbous projection, a dolltorso, sealing means disposed at the lower portion of said head forsealingly engaging said head to said doll torso in a water tightfashion, the :shell being provided with a pair of eyes with a measuredhole in each eye in communication with said space, means for fillingsaid space with water, said bulbous projection having a hollow interiorand provided with an air hole located in the It will be recognized bythose skilled in the art that the hollow interior of the bulbousprotrusion to accomplish' the displacement of space. 7

It should be particularly understood by those skilled in the art thatone of the primary considerationsof utilizing a bulbous protrusion, isto occupy space. In this manner, a portion of the hollow interior of thedolls head is displaced so that excessive fluid is not required generalarea which is highest when the doll is in a vertical position and mahorizontal position, said air hole being in communication with saidspace and permitting air under pressure to be urged into said space whenthe doll torso is squeezed promoting the leakage of water from themeasured holes in said eyes.

2. A tearing eye doll according'to claim 1 wherein means for injectingfluid into said space is provided, said means including a mouth in saidhead and means in said mouth for enabling water to be. transferred tosaid space.

3. A tearing eye doll according to claim 2 wherein said means in saidmouth includes a one way valve permitting water to be passedtherethrough to said space upon the insertion of a nozzle of a squeezebottle being placed therein.

4. A tearing eye doll according to claim 1 wherein tOI'SO.

1. A tearing eye doll comprising a head, said head including a shellhaving a hollow interior and an inner surface, a bulbous projectionhaving an outer surface and disposed within said hollow interior andoccupying approximately two thirds of said hollow interior, said bulbousprojection having air at atmospheric pressure disposed therein, a spacein the hollow interior of the doll''s head between the inner surface ofsaid shell and the outer surface of said bulbous projection, a dolltorso, sealing means disposed at the lower portion of said head forsealingly engaging said head to said doll torso in a water tightfashion, the shell being provided with a pair of eyes with a measuredhole in each eye in communication with said space, means for fillingsaid space with water, said bulbous projection having a hollow interiorand provided with an air hole located in the general area which ishighest when the doll is in a vertical position and in a horizontalposition, said air hole being in communication with said space andpermitting air under pressure to be urged into said space when the dolltorso is squeezed promoting the leakage of water from the measured holesin said eyes.
 2. A tearing eye doll according to claim 1 wherein meansfor injecting fluid into said space is provided, said means including amouth in said head and means in said mouth for enabling water to betransferred to said space.
 3. A tearing eye doll according to claim 2wherein said means in said mouth includes a one way valve permittingwater to be passed therethrough to said space upon the insertion of anozzle of a squeeze bottle being placed therein.
 4. A tearing eye dollaccording to claim 1 wherein said bulbous projection is formedintegrally with said torSo.